although, as we said, the tide that pours over is thirty-five feet broad. But it widens as it descends, and curves a little on one side as it widens; so that it shapes itself, before it reaches its first bowl of granite, into the figure of a comet. More beautiful than the comet, however, we can see the substance of this watery loveliness ever renew itself, and ever pour itself away. noot out 9. The cataract seems to shoot out a thousand sernding pentine heads or knots of water, which wriggle down carlaus deliberately through the air, and expend themselves in mist before half the descent is over. Then a new set burst from the body and sides of the fall, with the same fortune on the remaining distance; and thus the most charming fretwork of watery nodules, each trailing its vapory train for a hundred feet or mor is ing its va cascade, which swings, now and woven all over the then, thirty feet each way, on the mountain side, as if it were a pendulum of watery lace. Once in a while, too, the wind manages to get back of the fall, between it and the cliff, and then it will whirl it round and round, for two or three hundred feet, as if to try the experiment of twisting it to wring it dry. 10. Of course I visited the foot of the lowest fall of the Yo-Semite, and looked up through the spray, five hundred feet, to its crown. And I tried to climb to the base of the first or highest cataract, but lost my way among the steep, sharp rocks; for there is only one line by which the cliff can be scaled. But no nearer view that I found, or heard described, is com ́parable with the picture, from the hotel, of the CometCurve of the upper cataract, fifteen hundred feet high, and the two falls immediately beneath it, in which the same water leaps to the level of the quiet Merced. REV. T. S. KING, XXXI.-THE KEEPING OF THE BRIDGE. STRAIGHT (strate), a., not crooked;—| VAN'GUARD, n., first line of an army. ad., directly; in the shortest time. CREST, n., an ornament on a helmet. QUOTH (kwōth), v. i. defective, said. ERE (like ere in there), ad., before. DAUNTLESS (au as in father), a., fearless. LE'VER, n., bar for raising weights. HAR'NESS, n., armor; furniture for a GOR'Y, a., stained with clotted blood. In cap'tain, vil'lain, &c., give ai the sound of short i. Do not say bil'ing for boil'ing. It is recorded in the annals of ancient Rome that Horatius, assisted by Lartius and Herminius, defended the Sublician Bridge, over the Tiber, against the whole Etruscan army, under Por'sena, while the Romans broke down the bridge behind the "dauntless Three." When the work was nearly finished, Horatius sent back his two companions. As soon as the bridge was quite destroyed, he plunged into the stream, and swam across to the city in safety, amid the arrows of the enemy. 1. Our spake the Consul roundly: "The bridge must straight go down; For, since Janic'ulum* is lost, And the temples of his gods? 2. "Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, a ike_ With all the speed you may; I, with two more to help me, May well be stopped by three. Now, who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge with me?" い * One of the hills of ancient Rome, from which it was separated by the river Tiber. Por'sena took the fort of Janiculum, and compelled the Romans to retreat, over the bridge, into the city. 3. Then out spake Spu'rius Lar'tius,- 'Lo, I will stand on thy right hand, And keep the bridge with thee." 4. "Horatius," quoth the Consul, 5. The three stood calm and silent, Felt their hearts sink to see 6. Meanwhile the ax and lēver Have manfully been plied, And now the bridge hangs tottering Above the boiling tide. "Come back, come back, Hora'tius!" "Back, Lar'tius! back, Hermin'ius! Romulus divided the Romans into three tribes, called Rhamnenses, Tati enses, and Lucerenses. The Roman Senators were called Fathers, or Conscript Fathers. 7. Back darted Spu'rius Lartius; And, as they passed, beneath their feet But when they turned their faces, And on the further shore Saw brave Horatius stand alone, They would have crossed once more. 8. But, with a crash like thunder, And, like a dam, the mighty wreck 9. Alone stood brave Horatius, With a smile on his pale face. 10. Round turned he, as not deigning Naught spake he to Lars Porsena, But he saw on Pălati'nus The white porch of his home; And he spake to the noble river That rolls by the towers of Rome: 11. "O Tiber! Father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray! * In the Etruscan language Lars meant "mighty chief," or lord, A Roman's life, a Roman's arms, 12. No sound of joy or sorrow 3. Was heard from either bank; But friends and foes, in dumb surprise, They saw his crest appear, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, " We should have sacked the town! 14. And now the ground he touches, Now round him throng the Fathers, Το press his gory And now, with shouts and clapping, LORD MACAULAY. (1800-1860.) |